East Village Association officers 2015-2016

Another week, another election: East Village Association members will vote Monday, March 2, for the group's president, vice president, treasurer and secretary.

There'll also be details on the runoff for 2nd Ward alderman. EVA will co-sponsor a debate between finalists Brian Hopkins and Alyx Pattison March 24 at Columbus School, 1003 N. Leavitt St. Crain's Chicago Business political editor Greg Hinz will moderate. The city runoff election is April 7.

Here are the EVA officer candidates:

Daniel R. Johnson (president) has been an East Village resident for the last 3 years. "My wife, Julia, and I bought a house on Winchester built more than a century ago. We have two young daughters and enjoy walking around the neighborhood, playing at Commercial Park and eating lunch at the local restaurants.

"We moved to East Village for a number of reasons, including the short commute to the Loop, the unique character of the architecture, the vibrancy created by the different businesses, the mature trees and the walking distance to a pizza place, gelato store, supermarket or bakery. I'm interested in preserving and enhancing the qualities of the neighborhood, both food and non-food related, that drew us here.

"I'm a graduate of Amherst College and Northwestern University law school and I'm a litigation partner at a law firm. I have been the Vice President of the East Village Association for the last year and look forward to continuing to work together with the residents, businesses, and others that make this community the sort of place that we all choose to live in despite the excessive amount of time we must spend shoveling snow."

Catherine Garypie (vice president) has been an East Village resident for 8 years. She's been active in community policing, volunteered at Commercial Park, the Chicago Police/ Chicago Food Depository monthly food giveaway in Eckhart Park, and at a local teen homeless shelter.

She was born and raised in Michigan, attended college in New York and law school in Chicago. She's worked as an environmental attorney for more than 23 years in Chicago (1991-95, 2002-present), New York (1995-98) and Boston (1998-2002). She lives near Augusta & Wood. Here she's goofing off at EVA's summer 2014 block party with members of EVA and Chicago Fire Department Station 30 (1125 N. Ashland Ave.).

Michael VanDam (secretary) has lived in East Village for more than 6 years, and in Chicago for more than 20. He joins the board after a year as a member of the Planning, Preservation and Development committee. Living directly on Chicago Avenue, Michael is particularly interested in promoting responsible development on the commercial corridors of East Village.

VanDam grew up in Michigan and attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island before coming back to the Midwest. He works as an independent public relations consultant, specializing in business-to-business and financial services marketing.

Kok Keng (KK) Goh (treasurer) grew up in Singapore. "I studied at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, worked as a management consultant, and am currently an investor in real estate projects.

"I’ve grown to love this neighborhood for its mix of inhabitants and blend of architecture. Serving on the EVA board has left me with a deep sense of appreciation for EVA’s role in shaping the neighborhood."

Additional nominations will be accepted before the vote. Meet your neighbors and take part at 7pm in the Happy Village, 1959 N. Wolcott Ave. As Woody Allen said, 80 percent of success is showing up.